Top 10 Deftones Songs

Top 10 Deftones

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The post-metal sound of Sacramento and beyond. Welcome to WatchMojo.com, and today we’ll be counting down our picks for the Top 10 Deftones Songs.   For this list, we’ve chosen our entries based on a combination of the artist’s fan favorites and their most commercially successful songs.  

#10: “Rocket Skates” Diamond Eyes (2010)

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  Guns. Razors. Knifes. Nobody can sell a love song quite like the Deftones, however after the late Chi Cheng slipped into a coma after a car accident, the band was certainly operating on another level and certainly with a heavy heart. Lyrically, “Rocket Skates” details a sadistic romance and through a metaphysical set of passages sparked by Chino Moreno’s off-kilter vocals, the band delivered one of their most brilliant modern tracks. Guns. Razors, Knifes. We may not get down with all that, but we’ll get down with this track here.  

#9: “Diamond Eyes” Diamond Eyes (2010)

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  At the time of recording their sixth album, the Deftones still dreamed of a reunion with their bassist Chi Cheng, which makes the lyrical metaphors of “Diamond Eyes” even more cumbersome, especially in light of Cheng’s death in 2013. However, on its own merit and removed from the context of the band's history, “Diamond Eyes” offers a trip to the dark side of the moon, post-metal style, large in part to the atmospheric lyrics combined with a heavy, heavy breakdown.  

  Speaking of the dark side of the moon, the Deftones took a Pink Floyd “Live in Pompeii” approach for this track about the beauty of art and all those Minervas of the world that bring joy to others.  Truly an uplifting song and featuring a musical aura that produces somewhat of a transcendental experience, “Minerva” displayed a bit of the band’s alt-rock side, offering fans a break from the high-energy metal sound the group is known for. The track was initially promoted as the lead single for the band’s self-titled release and holds up as timeless alternative classic of the early 21st century.  

  While some of the Deftones’ faithful fans believe this song to be about a drunk individual contemplating the surrounding world, scholars have long maintained that it’s actually about choking the chicken, so to speak. As the lead track for Deftones 1995 debut album, “Bored” contributed to the overall sentiments felt by disenfranchised alternative music fans at the time, and you damn well know that many could associate with the lyrical content. Such is the power of music.  

#6: “7 Words” Adrenaline (1995)

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  On paper, one could look at the opening lyrics of this early Deftones track and imagine Bob Marley speaking the same words. Well, at least until the chorus that is… Seemingly about the local 5-0 and the concept of “you have the right to remain silent,” “7 Words” beholds a sense of rage and rejection that N.W.A. so brilliantly conveyed just a few years earlier. Of course, by the end of the decade, a number of bands would capitalize on this same type of sound, but few could deliver the message on par with the Deftones.  

  For anyone that takes pride in being young, wild and free, this song will remind of your more cautious friends- the ones yet to fully immerse themselves in rebellion but still down for the ride on occasion. Tucked away near the end of Deftones’ third album, this gem was constructed in collaboration with Tool’s Maynard James Keenan. By incorporating a shoe-gaze aesthetic tinged with whispering, soaring and downright chaotic vocals, “Passenger” effectively puts one in the backseat with Deftones leading us to an unknown location. Are you down to ride? Or do you just want a ride home?  

#4: “My Own Summer (Shove It)” Around the Fur (1997)

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  Deftones may be a California band, however they were formed several hours north of the posturing and fake smiles that Hollywood has to offer. With “My Own Summer,” they produced an introspective single about living inside of your own head and finding a sense of happiness not pre-determined by societal symbols and labels. Whether you’re a creative individual, or just someone who finds value in time alone, this track touches on the beauty of knowing yourself, even if others can’t identify.  

#3: “Be Quiet and Drive (Far Away)” Around the Fur (1997)

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  Lyrically modest, this Deftones single could serve as a road trip anthem for some but represent something deeper for others. Above all, however, “Be Quiet and Drive” showcases a feeling of isolation and detachment, whether it’s from a community, a significant other or perhaps within your own home. Before the Deftonesbecame a well-known band, it was their sound alone that reached curious listeners, and it was this single that became their first commercial hit and even found a place in various soundtracks.  

  Soft, timely and gentle, this song is all about giving a woman a literal digital bath, which seems to be a nice metaphor for electrocution. It’s true, as the group has been on record about the song’s inception, however “Digital Bath” certainly does contain sexual connotations as well. Depending on your plans for the evening, this hypnotic track could function as the soundtrack for some heavy love makin’ or one might just want chill out and step away from it all. Whatever the case, Deftones created something beautiful with “Digital Bath,” and it all came from a rather dark state of mind.   Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.   “Leathers” Koi No Yokan (2012)   “You’ve Seen the Butcher” Diamond Eyes (2010)   “Sextape” Diamond Eyes (2010)   “Hole in the Earth” Saturday Night Wrist (2006)   “Back to School (Mini Maggit)” White Pony (2000)   “Hexagram” Deftones (2003)  

  Perhaps anticipating the darker aspects of human nature that would arise with the rise of social media,Deftones produced a haunting and timely classic. On a fundamental level, yes, the song references the negatives aspects of change, but while many like to judge others and point out their personal flaws, not many like to admit the sick sense of joy they experience from manipulating the lives of others. In essence, “Change” is the song for the haters, or at least those brave enough to recognize how another’s torment can inspire a temporary lapse of reason. Then again, “Change” IS for everybody.   So, do you agree with our selections? What is your favorite Deftones song? For more mind-blowing Top 10s published daily, be sure to subscribe to WatchMojo.com.